Questions and Answers: Religious Discrimination in the Workplace Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers with at least 15 employees, as well as employment agencies and unions, from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It also prohibits retaliation against persons who complain of discrimination or participate in an EEO investigation. With respect to religion, Title VII prohibits: * treating applicants or employees differently based on their religious beliefs or practices – or lack thereof – in any aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, assignments, discipline, promotion, and benefits (disparate treatment); * subjecting employees to harassment because of their religious beliefs or practices – or lack thereof – or because of the religious practices or beliefs of people with whom they associate (e.g., relatives, friends, etc.); * denying a requested reasonable accommodation of an applicant’s or employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs or practices – or lack thereof – if an accommodation will not impose more than a de minimis cost or burden on business operations; 1 and, * retaliating against an applicant or employee who has engaged in protected activity, including participation (e.g., filing an EEO charge or testifying as a witness in someone else’s EEO matter), or opposition to religious discrimination (e.g., complaining to human resources department about alleged religious discrimination). The following questions and answers were adapted from EEOC’s Compliance Manual Section on Religious Discrimination, available at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/religion.html, which contains more detailed guidance, legal citations, case examples, and best practices. It is designed to be a practical resource for employers, employees, practitioners, and EEOC enforcement staff on Title VII’s prohibition against religious discrimination, and provides guidance on how to balance the needs of individuals in a diverse religious climate. 1. What is “religion” under Title VII?

Title VII protects all aspects of religious observance and practice as well as belief and defines religion very broadly for purposes of determining what the law covers. For purposes of Title VII, religion includes not only traditional, organized religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, but also religious beliefs that are new, uncommon, not part of a formal church or sect, only subscribed to by a small number of people, or that seem illogical or unreasonable to others. An employee’s belief or practice can be “religious” under Title VII even if the employee is affiliated with a religious group that does not espouse or recognize that individual’s belief or practice, or if few – or no – other people adhere to it. Title VII’s protections also extend to those who are discriminated against or need accommodation because they profess no religious beliefs. Religious beliefs include theistic beliefs (i.e. those that include a belief in God) as well as non-theistic “moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views.” Although courts generally resolve doubts about particular beliefs in favor of finding that they are religious, beliefs are not protected merely because they are strongly held. Rather, religion typically concerns “ultimate ideas” about “life, purpose, and death.” Social, political, or economic philosophies, as well as mere personal preferences, are not “religious” beliefs protected by Title VII. Religious observances or practices include, for example, attending worship services, praying, wearing religious garb or symbols, displaying religious objects, adhering to certain dietary rules, proselytizing or other forms of religious expression, or refraining from...

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...ReligiousDiscrimination in the Workplace: The Islamic Religion
Introduction
Globalization effects  September 11, 2001  Religious freedom

The Islamic Religion about work
“Whoever goes to bed exhausted because of hard work, he has thereby caused his sins to be absolved” (Ali, 2010)  Islam treats work as an obligatory activity  Quran gives work a spiritual meaning.

Religion in the workplace
“Work plays a fundamental role in the life of the individual” (Sharabi, 2012)  The workplace community  “Religion is one diversity categorization, with a significant impact on workers” (Laila, Arlise, Terrie, 2012)

Religion Discrimination and the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Signed by congress in 1964  “Proscribes discrimination in employment and endeavors to achieve true equality” (Gregory, 2011)  The intent of the law is to secure religious freedom.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…
Prohibits workplace discrimination based on:
     Religion National origin Race Color Sex
ReligiousDiscrimination…
• • Involves treating a person (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs. The law protects not only people who belong to traditional, organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, but also others who have sincerely held...

...|
ReligiousDiscrimination in the Work Place |
Prepared for Barbara Hagerty |
Written BY: |
Alamoodi |
Baker CollegeWRI 1158/17/2008 |
A serious look at religiousdiscrimination in the work place, and possible solutions. |
ReligiousDiscrimination in the Work Place
Thesis Statement: The First Amendment gives all American the freedom of religion, expression and speech. However, in today’s post 9-11 society Muslims are experiencing an incredible increase in discrimination.
Contents:
Introduction
My story
Purpose and Scope
A. definitions
B. Introduction to some Islamic Practices
C. Examples of discrimination
Findings
A. Statistics
B. Anti-discrimination act
Proposal/Solution
Adaptation of Policies and Accommodations
Summary
Introduction
In 2006, I was looking for a job. I saw an ad in our local paper for a Lead Teacher position in a child care center just a few miles from my home, so I faxed over my resume. A couple hours later, the Director called me. She was very impressed with my education and experience. My availability seemed to match her needs exactly. She asked me if I could come in this afternoon for an interview because she wanted me to start on Monday and she needed me to take my drug test and physical before the clinic closed at 5.
We arranged to meet at 2:30pm. I came right...

...* How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)?
One of the beliefs of Buddhism is referred to as reincarnation, which is a concept that people are reborn after dying. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may occur repeatedly. In rebirth, the person does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. Nirvana is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.
Three methods of Training or Practices:
Sila – principle of equality.
Samadhi – concentration and meditation.
Prajna – insight, wisdom, and enlightenment.
* What has been the experience of your selected religious group with others that do not share its beliefs or practices?
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* In what ways has the...

...
Accommodating Religious Expression in the Workplace
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Introduction
In this day and time, with more emphasis by employees being put on the expression of their religion in the workplace, Human Resource Managers are faced with many issues that conflict with their current policies. Accommodating religious expression in the workplace is a growing concern and requires HR professionals to have both an understanding of the legal framework and view the issue from an employer and employee perspective. Spirituality is defined by Mitroff and Denton (1999), is the basic feeling of being connected with one’s complete self, others and the entire universe. Workplace spirituality can be defined as a certain way of thinking about yourself, work, and work-related organizations.
Because spirituality in the workplace is still a relatively new concept, in 2011 professionals and business thinkers continue to develop definitions for this topic. Researchers have found that there have been five major trends that have led to an increased interest in...

...Many religious organizations work to promote social welfare by such actions as assisting the poor, caring for the sick, and sheltering the homeless. Also, in some societies, a shared religion is a powerful social bond that ties people together. However, when people of different faiths live together, religious differences can lead to conflict and even war. Throughout history, societies have attempted to find the appropriate role for religion in public life—one that takes advantage of religion’s many benefits while controlling its divisive tendencies.
American Religious History
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Freedom of Religion
Many groups of settlers, such as the Pilgrims, came to America so that they...

...Discrimination in the Workplace
According to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Discrimination charges were up slightly from last year from 99,922 to 99,947. In terms of the volume of charges by protected class, the highest percentages were:
• Retaliation – 37.4%
• Race – 35.4%
• Sex/Gender – 28.4%
• ADA/Disability – 25.8%
Nine out of ten times when you go into a business meeting, the person you are encountering for the first time has already formed an impression of you based on your communication with them up to that point. Your religion, race, height, nationality and even your gender are factors that most people make quick judgments about. Unfortunately, many of these judgments are bias and assumptions. According to Oxford dictionary, discrimination is the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather on the individual merit. My reasons for this message are to point out the effects of racial discrimination and how it can be prevented.
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...for each other, but the major conflict in this systematic support is the term ‘gender discrimination’.
‘Gender discrimination’ is often based on gender stereotypes of a particular society, i.e. considering men physically strong and women as emotionally sensitive. It is because of the fact that the term ‘gender’ is often conflicted with the term ‘sex’. Both the terms are used as synonyms of each other in normal context, but there’s a technical difference between the both. ‘Sex’ is a biological differentiation of individuals, categorizing them as males and females, this difference of individuals is same in all the cultures, while ‘gender’ is a social differentiation of individuals which categorizes them as ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’. This difference determines the role of individuals in a particular society. The role of individuals in different societies is different and thus the role of gender is variable in accordance with the prevailing social setup.
‘Sex’ and ‘gender’ are different in origin but basically the general role of individuals in a particular society is partly based on the physical potentials of individuals. Along with physical requirements individual must have to use his / her mental capabilities in order to move in the society. Gender discrimination in its originality is a phenomenon, by which the role of individuals is determined with in a particular society. Gender Discrimination allows the...